Which symptom is characteristic of cholecystitis?

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Multiple Choice

Which symptom is characteristic of cholecystitis?

Pain in the right upper quadrant that can radiate to the right shoulder is a classic sign of cholecystitis. This happens because the inflamed gallbladder irritates the diaphragm, sending referred pain up to the shoulder via the phrenic nerve. In real clinical scenarios this RUQ pain may be accompanied by nausea, vomiting, and fever, and the exam may reveal a positive Murphy sign, where inhalation is painful on deep RUQ palpation. Headache and burning in the lower abdomen don’t align with gallbladder inflammation. Left shoulder pain is less typical for cholecystitis, since the gallbladder’s irritation most often causes symptoms on the right side and in the shoulder region on the right.

Pain in the right upper quadrant that can radiate to the right shoulder is a classic sign of cholecystitis. This happens because the inflamed gallbladder irritates the diaphragm, sending referred pain up to the shoulder via the phrenic nerve. In real clinical scenarios this RUQ pain may be accompanied by nausea, vomiting, and fever, and the exam may reveal a positive Murphy sign, where inhalation is painful on deep RUQ palpation.

Headache and burning in the lower abdomen don’t align with gallbladder inflammation. Left shoulder pain is less typical for cholecystitis, since the gallbladder’s irritation most often causes symptoms on the right side and in the shoulder region on the right.

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